HOVEL USE FOR BRIGADE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, 13 January 1913, Page 7

HOVEL USE FOR BRIGADE.

AIDING THE CURE OF RHEUMATISM.

The Berlin Fire Brigade, unlike most Berlin authorities, is not unduly burdened with red-tape; apd evidently the interpretation which they put upon “life-saving” is extremely elastic. The chief officer qf the London Brigade would, we imagine, have been somewhat put out hy the following letter received hy his fellow-officer in Berlin:—

“Dear Sir, —I am rich and rheumatic. I live on the third story of a block where the lift is being repaired. I cannot get down the,stairs, even if I could get up again. Nevertheless, my doctor prescribes me a two hours walk every day. Will you kindly tell me what you can do to solve this problem? I will pay what is necessary. . . :

The German -chief officer was not a fc all pilt out. He seems to have argued that to get the old lady on to the ground would he an extraordinarily good practice for his men. Accordingly he replied that he would do nil he could, and that his services would cost for the return journey only eight shillings. Accordingly, , fqr the next week, every day Berlinrwatched a company of firemen enter the house, and imagined that a terrible fire was breaking out. The erod’d was extremely disappointed to learn from the porter that there was no fire, and that the lady was not to be shot to the ground upon a mattress, or by any of the means that crowds have learnt to expect from firemen. Instead they carried the lady gently down step by step upon their crossed hands, and carried her up again in the same unexciting manner. Nevertheless, in spite of disappointments, the spectators haie become more numerous every day, swollen by the addition of cinematograph .operators and newspaper photographers. Meanwhile the patient declares that she lias experienced great benefit from the novel regime. It is at least a way of imparting interest to exercises that might be monotonous for the members of the fire brigade. But it will be many years, remarks the ‘Westminster Gazette,’ before the London Brigade will be bold enough, or easy-going enough, to do the like.